Rail - Tacoma - Bypass of Point Defiance

Project news

Update on return of Amtrak Cascades service to the Point Defiance Bypass

In spring 2019, Amtrak anticipates returning Cascades passenger train service to the Point Defiance Bypass between Tacoma, Lakewood, JBLM and DuPont.

This schedule allows time for the National Transportation Safety Board to complete its investigation and issue its recommendations related to the 2017 derailment in DuPont. It also provides time to monitor how Positive Train Control (PTC) is working on the current Amtrak Cascades route, before returning the service to the bypass. Amtrak, Sound Transit, and BNSF are all working together to ensure PTC is operating seamlessly in the entire Pacific Northwest and they are confident they will meet the December 31, 2018, federal deadline for implementation in our region.

PTC equipment testing and crew training will occur on the Point Defiance Bypass throughout the fall and winter in preparation for the return of daily service next spring.

June 2018
Point Defiance Bypass testing, train travel update

PTC status
Implementation of the positive train control system on the entire Amtrak Cascades line, including the Point Defiance Bypass, is progressing well. Amtrak, WSDOT, BNSF and Sound Transit all are working together to implement PTC prior to the national deadline at the end of 2018. The goal is to seamlessly integrate the three elements that must all work together for the system to be fully activated. As of June 2018, the following progress has been made:

Trackside equipment is in place and operational

Onboard equipment is undergoing final equipment testing and approval

Back office servers are in place and Amtrak and BNSF are working to integrate their systems with one another

The next step in the process is to test the entire system on the rail line. Throughout the summer, trains will be traveling along the bypass conducting various system tests and train crew qualifications. During this testing, expect trains on the bypass traveling at speeds up to 79 mph on both weekdays and weekends. As always, you are encouraged to stay safe around the railroad tracks.

January 2018

Construction of the tracks and new Amtrak station is operationally complete, but due to the Dec. 18, 2017, derailment, trains will not use the bypass route or the new station for the foreseeable future. Tacoma passengers will catch Amtrak Cascades trains at the previous Amtrak station, 1001 Puyalllup Ave. The station at Freighthouse Square is not operating at this time.

Overview
The Point Defiance Bypass Project will reroute passenger trains to an inland rail line along the west side of I-5 through south Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont. Sound Transit currently uses a portion of this route for Sounder commuter rail service to Lakewood.

This project will improve passenger train reliability by reducing congestion with freight trains and eliminating travel on tight corners and tunnels.

Why is WSDOT upgrading tracks for passenger trains to bypass the Point Defiance area in Tacoma?
Passenger trains, including Amtrak Cascades, currently must slow down due to curves and single-track tunnels on the BNSF Railway main line tracks near Point Defiance and along southern Puget Sound.

This project reroutes passenger trains to an inland route. The bypass is on an existing rail line that runs along the west side of Interstate 5 (I-5), from south Tacoma through Lakewood and DuPont. It reconnects back to the BNSF Railway main line near Nisqually, on the east side of I-5. It also adds a new Amtrak Cascades station in Tacoma's Freighthouse Square building.

Freight train traffic patterns will not change with most freight trains continuing to use the existing main line near Point Defiance and along southern Puget Sound. The few freight trains that currently use the bypass route will continue to use it during and after the project.

The End Result
The end result is more frequent, more reliable, and faster Amtrak Cascades service.
When completed, the Point Defiance Rail Bypass project will bring a total of six daily round trip Amtrak Cascades trains and one Coast Starlight train through Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont intersections, with an average crossing time of 45 seconds per intersection and a maximum speed of 79 mph. Use of the bypass will add two additional daily roundtrips between Seattle and Portland for at total of six.

What is the project timeline?
While the station is complete, due to the Dec. 18, 2017, derailment the staion and bypass are not being used for the foreseeable future. Amtrak Cascades continue to run on the previous rail route.

Financial Information
Washington state is delivering nearly $800 million in federally funded rail corridor improvements using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) high-speed rail grants administered by the Federal Railroad Administration. The Point Defiance Bypass is one of those ARRA-funded projects.